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OLLI
E-News #5 of Aug. 26, 2005
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REMINDERS
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>>
CAROL FERRARA'S GOODBYE RECEPTION: Sign up in the
office by Wed., Aug. 31 for the reception 1:00-3:30 PM on Wed., Sep. 7.
>> REGISTRATION:
Fall-term
registration ends Fri., Sep. 2.
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ALERT
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>>
GMU AQUATICS & FITNESS CENTER: Read
this note if you plan to join at the
advertised $175/year employee discount rate, with free parking.
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>> Cognitive
Decline? Not at OLLI: How OLLI helps us
stay mentally alert.
>> The
Conversation Program: Help international students
with their English.
>> Meet
Your Directors: Learn more about
board members Don and Debbie.
>> OLLI
Open House at Lake Anne: Tell
neighbors, friends and acquaintances. |
 By Elizabeth Crawford, OLLI E-News staff writer
ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE in The
Washington Post, those who remain mentally awake are less likely
to become senile in their old age. Bob Stein, author of Lifestyle May Be Key to Slowing Brain's
Aging (August 14, 2005), suggests that it may be difficult for
some older people to change bad habits--to turn off
brainless television programs and spend more time in challenging mental
activity. This is no problem for members of OLLI, whose major mental
challenge is deciding which of many fascinating classes to attend.
 Studies have suggested that people
who read, act, go to plays, attend lectures, and stretch their brains
with games like chess are more likely to remain alert into their later
years. In other words, "use it or lose it." With our book discussion
groups, Reader's Theater, trips to plays, bridge group, and myriad
classes,
we seem to have those areas well covered at OLLI.
Even more helpful, according to Stein, is
participating in a "rich diversity of stimulating activities." It is
important, he says, to "combine mental stimulation with social
interaction." He must have been thinking of us when he wrote this
article.
WITH
ALL WE DO AT OLLI, WE ARE LIKELY TO BE A
DYNAMITE GROUP OF OLD FOLKS.
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Increasing sophistication in brain imaging is
allowing scientists to measure activity in test subjects' frontal lobes. One study of seniors whose
volunteer work involves mental activity, such as tutoring, showed
"reinvigorated" frontal lobes.
We can tutor students at GMU [See The
Conversation Program, in this issue. --Editor] or,
even better, become instructors at OLLI, thus helping others while
helping
ourselves. Those who teach will not need to have their frontal lobes
examined.
The enthusiastic response of their students will be reassurance enough
that
their brains are working just fine. Therefore, with all we are doing at
OLLI, we are likely to be a dynamite group of old folks.
Before we dislocate our shoulders patting ourselves
on the back, however, we must consider one depressing detail mentioned
in Stein's article. He says that the same prudent choices
that help us avoid heart attacks and strokes--those dreaded words "diet
and exercise"--also help to maintain mental health. However, since
research in this area of geriatrics is only beginning, no one is sure
which
factors are most important.
So, if we cover our bases--volunteer, join a
discussion group, make some new friends in the Social Room, and
take an extra class--then we should be able to take a walk on the
wild side (that would qualify as exercise, wouldn't it?) and have a
cookie. Back
to top.
 By Joan Crawford, George Mason University
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
INSTITUTE AT GMU will again sponsor "The Conversation Program," a
conversation program for international students 
who would like to improve their oral English skills by participating in
small-group discussions. This is an excellent volunteer opportunity for
retired teachers and others who enjoy meeting internationals.
A core of experienced volunteers
who have led groups in the past will provide orientation and training
for those new to the program during the week of September 19th.
There are four time slots for the training and the
weekly hour-long meetings with small groups of students: 1:30 PM and
4:30 PM Tuesdays; 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM on Wednesdays. The
orientation/training sessions will be held the week of September 12th,
and the eight weeks of sessions with students begin the following week,
Sept. 20 and 21st.
If you are interested in volunteering or in
learning more about the program, please email me
(phone 703-993-3660) and provide your phone number and the best time to
reach you. Thanks much. Back
to top.
By Elizabeth Crawford, OLLI E-News staff writer
 WHILE SOME OF US WERE HAVING FUN IN THE SUN, our
conscientious leaders spent a day at Tallwood discussing the changes
that the Board of Directors will face in working with an Executive
Director. Pictured are Don Yesukaitis, Treasurer and Finance Committee
chair, and Debbie Halverson, Membership Committee chair.
Don has been a member of LRI/OLLI since
1999. Don has a degree in Business Administration and worked for many
years at Arthur Anderson & Co., eventually becoming a partner in
1986.
He is a CPA and part-time advisor to the international accounting firm,
KPMG. At OLLI, Don is in his second term on the board and has
frequently
served as class liaison.
OLLI is fortunate to have someone with such an
extensive background in finance to oversee the organization's financial
viability. Don will be active in choosing a future home for OLLI that
will enable the organization to "accommodate healthy and reasonable
membership growth" and to "continue and increase the number of quality
lectures,
programs, and activities."
Debbie joined OLLI in 2003 and has been
an active member ever since. She has had extensive experience in
writing, which serves her well when she is called upon to write
articles for OLLI News and OLLI E-News as well as
membership-related announcements and features for local newspapers and
newsletters. She
has also taught writing courses for OLLI.
Debbie's years in publishing production taught her
how to work with groups of people to generate ideas and see them
implemented. To quote Debbie, "My continued role as Membership Chair
is to focus my creative energies into growing the membership without
losing
sight of the varied needs of our ever-faithful members." If anyone is
perfect
for that job, it's Debbie.
Editor's Note.
Look for more photos and directors' profiles in future issues of OLLI E-News. Back
to top.
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Lake Anne site
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By Abbie
Edwards, Reston Support Committee chair
DON'T MISS OLLI'S OPEN HOUSE AT LAKE ANNE on Friday, September 9, from
10:30 AM to 12 noon at the Washington Plaza Baptist Church, Lake Anne
Plaza, Reston, Virginia. Directions to Lake Anne are in
the catalog or on our Website's maps page.
All OLLI members are encouraged to attend the Open
House and to bring friends, neighbors and acquaintances who may not
know about our wonderful course offerings and social activities
throughout the year. Refreshments will be served during the Open
House.
There are many new retirees
out there in the Northern Virginia area who are looking for
opportunities such as what we have to offer. So let's get the word out
and bring those interested to our Open House.
For further information, please contact Abbie Edwards.
Back
to top.
Editor's
Note.
Last week's article on the GMU Aquatics & Fitness Center mentioned
that
OLLI members are eligible for a $175/year employee discount, with free
parking. OLLI members should ask to speak to the manager if the person
at the desk, often a student, is not aware of this arrangement for OLLI
members. Back
to top.
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Rod
Zumbro
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OLLI E-NEWS
Editor
Proofreader
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About
OLLI E-News. Between class terms, OLLI E-News is distributed via
email whenever sufficient content is available. We encourage OLLI
members and staff employees to submit news items and write articles (submit any material
to OLLI E-News editor Rod
Zumbro). Comments, suggestions or complaints? Please contact the editor or the
Publications Committee chair, Gordon
Canyock.
Note
about HTML graphics. If
you do not see photos and
clickable links in this message, you might want to change your email
settings. To read html-formatted messages like this
in three popular email systems:
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Express.
Click Tools; select Options; in the Read tab, uncheck "Read all
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Click Mail
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Updated:
May 15, 2006
Copyright © 2006 Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at
George Mason University. Materials in this publication subject to
OLLI-GMU copyright may be reproduced for noncommercial educational
purposes as long as credit is given to OLLI-GMU.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University
4210 Roberts Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032-1028
Phone: (703) 503-3384; E-mail: olli@gmu.edu;
Fax: (703) 503-2832
Original site design and construction by OLLI-GMU member Rod Zumbro. |
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